Should I say Eagles vs. Chiefs? Or House Stark vs. House Lannister? Because the vibe going on in both headquarters must feel like an episode of Game of Thrones. Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni are probably formulating their checkmate moves against each other by now. These two armies have come this far after dominating the whole league. A weak spot is all they need to snatch away the Lombardi Trophy. Will the coaches figure that out in time? New Orleans will be the witness to that.

Yes, I know you’re thinking the Chiefs are pretty good in pressure games. But have you seen how the Eagles have been flying so far? Their defense has shown good depth in comparison to Patrick Mahomes and Co. Even the latest stats scream out loud that the Eagles’ defense is literally the best at the moment. An X post by the CEO of Field Vision, highlights that the Eagles rank very high in terms of total EPA/play on the season, meaning they were highly effective at limiting the opposing team’s expected points. “They led the league in EPA/play against the pass AND rush this year. This is why most people have them winning next Sunday.”

Andy Reid was on The Pat McAfee Show when the topic of the Eagles’ tremendous defense, led by DC Vic Fangio, came up. Naturally, the Chiefs coach had nothing but respect for the veteran defensive mastermind. In fact, he couldn’t help but acknowledge Fangio’s impact, saying, “Man, that guy, I can’t get rid of that guy. He’s everywhere, and he’s tough. He’s got a great scheme, and that defense plays their heart out… Vic is as good as anybody in this league, man.” And Reid isn’t just throwing words around—Fangio joined the Eagles in the 2024 offseason and, in less than a year, turned their defense into one of the most dominant forces in the league.

And it’s not just about schemes; it’s about the monsters Fangio has molded—Zack Baun, Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean. Speaking of Baun, did you know he ranks third in the league for solo tackles (93) and second in forced fumbles (5)? As for interceptions, Blankenship has that covered, sitting 10th in the league. In his very first meeting with the Eagles’ defense, he reportedly told them, “It’s not your fault you don’t work hard… you just don’t know how. But that’s going to change now that I’m here.” Well, he clearly is a man of his word, eh? And we were talking about that one weak spot to gain the upper hand, right? Maybe the Eagles have something that will help them tap into it.

Andy Reid faces a challenge as Chiefs’ offense suffers injury setback

It’s been the talk of the town that the Chiefs will win again, and maybe it’s all scripted. Well, well, well, people have surely jinxed their chances of doing so. Why? Football is not an individual sport that can be carried out by Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce alone. They need the whole pack intact to be at their A-game. You cannot accept 50% effort in this kind of do-or-die game.

Just when the days from the calendar are slipping by, voila! An injury update from the Chiefs’ kingdom has raised some eyebrows. Kareem Hunt, who was the Chiefs’ main weapon in the AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills, is surely going to be a key factor in the team’s Super Bowl LIX game plan against the Eagles. Unfortunately, Hunt was listed on the Chiefs’ injury report this Wednesday due to a quad issue, though it was estimated he participated fully in practice.

Thankfully, Hunt was removed from the injury list later in the week, so it seems he’s good to go. With Hunt’s injury scare behind him, the Chiefs’ RB depth chart still revolves around him and Isiah Pacheco, but expect Samaje Perine to take some carries as well, along with potential snaps for rookie Carson Steele. In the end, while Hunt’s injury may have caused a brief pause, the Chiefs’ RB depth remains strong, heading into Super Bowl LIX.

The Chiefdom will hope that Hunt can remain in peak form come February 9th.